All cities that ever at any time have
been ruled by an absolute prince, by aristocrats or by the people,
have had for their protection force combined with prudence, because
the latter is not enough alone, and the first either does not produce
things, or when they are produced, does not maintain them. Force
and prudence, then, are the might of all the governments that ever
have been or will be in the world.

-- Machiavelli,
Words to be Spoken on the Law for Appropriating Money

A step closer to complex hilts for the Next Generation line, this
sword has a hilt that was popular in Italy and Spain from the last
quarter of the 15th C (or even slightly earlier) and into the 16th
C. The hilt type (type 16 in Norman's classification) saw later developments
of more elaborate form, but in early examples a stark simplicity is
prevalent.

According to depictions in art, one can expect quite a number of different
blade shapes mounted with this hilt: anything from slender rapier
like blade to more sturdy cutting blades. We chose our type XIX blade
for this sword as it is a classic combination.

To Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 - June 21, 1527),
swords of this type would have been quite familiar. Ever pragmatic
with a keen eye for the right action at the right time, we thought
it fitting to name the sword after him.

Swords like these were favoured by light skirmishers, but might also
have been used by more heavily armoured troops.

In late 15th C art you can see how young blades around town are wearing
swords with civilian clothes by this period.

Even though we have stressed the Italian connection by naming it after
the famous political philosopher, it is quite probable that early
conquistadores carried weapons much like this on their campaigns in
the new world.

In character this weapon is a dedicated cutting weapon, but thrusting
comes natural as well and it takes very little effort to land the
point where it is intended. It has an overall weight and heft that
invites quick and flowing style of swordsmanship. The edge geometry
is rather fine, and is shaped according to a few well preserved type
XIX blades in Italian collections, as well as a famous one in the
Royal Armouries in Leeds.

This is not a sword for desperate armour bashing, but one that allows
well aimed and well timed cuts and thrust with deadly efficiency.
A dependable and agile sword for a swordsman with cool head and hot
temper, perhaps. It shares the same blade as the Condottiere and the
Kern of the Next Generation line.

A sword like this is like a last flowering of the European medieval
knightly sword, hinting at things yet to come. A weapon of special
character representing an important step in the evolution of the sword

A Limited Edition Hand Crafted Collectible SwordThis sword
is offered in a limited edition of only 500 collectible swords worldwide.